6 Likes
It ignored the full backs and to be fair it wasn’t the managers who deserve criticism it’s the pundits and those bellends on social media.
3 Likes
Take that back!
2 Likes
Bellend pundit “How dare they disrespect the league cup like this”.
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Redundant.
3 Likes
Redundant pundit, the two of you are onto something.
1 Like
Slot’s PC:
Yes we respect Southampton and expect a tough game.
No new injuries.
Stop asking me stupid questions about Wirtz and Isak.
Do you remember the Forest match? No? Well, I bloody do!
4 Likes
1 Like
Everything AS does is for a specific purpose, that made me realise that I was a bit out of order saying that he treated Chiesa as a two bob academy player. He informed him of his decisions at every stage and one of the most important aspect of getting picked to play is match fitness. The penny finally dropped with Fede in that he worked his socks off to get fit and prove to slot that he could make a difference when selected to play. Slot has earned the reputation of improving players and now I know why.
7 Likes
Unsure where to put this, but I am a little unsure in how we build up from the back as a team, the type of possession we are having is going nowhere, if it is for control then it isn’t working and if it is to draw teams out again it doesn’t work.
I initially thought that it was to progress the ball into our midfielders feet vertically but that doesn’t happen enough, all we do is slow the game down allowing the opposition to get in position by passing it between our CB’s then as a team presses as a unit we end up hitting a long ball and then losing it.
I have seen us take 2 passes to get the ball to a player when 1 pass is sufficient, I have heard that the idea being that if you pass the ball to player 5 yards away then the defence has to work hard to cover him and then has to move to be in position as the next pass is made.
Personally I think that is rubbish as if a ball travels 5 yards and is stopped before passing another 5 yards It is easier to cover as it is slower, whereas if it travel 20 yards then the whole team have to adjust quicker and further as the ball has travelled the same distance but in a quicker amount of time.
I am a massive fan of possession football, but not just to pass for passings sake, there has to be some threat or to move it in a way to tire a team out. We are far better when we move the ball quicker into feet with vertical balls and good movement to offer angle.
We are too pedestrian at times and then make it easier for the opposition to mark us.
Yet we are top of the league, but I think we do need a rethink what we are doing in possession, just my tuppence worth.
5 Likes
To be fair I don’t think creating chances was a particular issue in this one.
The fact we conceded 2.92 XG is concerning.
5 Likes
That’s a mixture of not playing hard and of not being properly set up. The ease with which Palace reached our box was infuriating. In some cases they bypassed the entire midfield with two passes, which is not surprising, considering that Slot opted for the disastrous 4-2-2-2 in the first half. The only other time he employed was also an abject failure, so why he went for it again is mystery.
Slot has to figure things out. From the lack of consistency within the duration of the match, to the vulnerability to counter attacks and set-pieces, which from a strength has become a weakness, to his own tactics and getting the best out of the players at his disposal, like Kerkez and Wirtz. It’s fair to say that he hasn’t done that yet.
6 Likes
I think we manifestly concentrated on buying more firepower upfront but we should have started shoring up the back line. The Konate issue has affected not just the player himself but also Virgil and the right back.
1 Like
We bought two new full backs, one new centre back, and narrowly missed out on a second.
That’s effectively a new back four that they were trying to land. It’s still a work in process, but it’s not for want of trying.
10 Likes
I posted this post match but may be better here.
We still seem a bit between styles. When Slot inherited the team he wanted to move from full throttle to more control. It partially worked but a lot of games at the end of the season we started with no control and only got results as we played catch up, full throttle second half.
This season feels the same. We are failing to control and only get on top when we need to push on for goals to win or draw. Both leave us defensively open.
So I really see this as a test of Slot. I am not for one second belittling his first season but he is now trying to impose more of his style, with more of his players.
It’s a real test of shaping something.
1 Like
Maybe Slot could/should take a step back and revert to familiar faces, reduce the number of changes made to the starting XI until there’s a semblance of a working team. We were all concerned that the team got a lot of new players at the same time and performances have been telling.
Mac Allister and Salah are terribly off form, while Konate isn’t far behind. However, Mac Allister is the only one reported to be carrying/recovering from an injury, though, so I wouldn’t have problems with seeing him benched and Slot going with the midfield of Gravenberch, Szoboszlai and Wirtz in the meantime. Not sure what the injury is there but given the amount of literal kicking he’s received over the last two years, it’s no wonder.
It’s not a problem that has a simple solution but the familiarity that Bradley and rested Robertson offer for league matches and the combination of energy and technical ability of Szoboszlai and Gravenberch might form the basis that the team needs to finally start ticking. Basically, just put Wirtz and one of Isak or Ekitike in the eleven and work to their strengths.
3 Likes
Slot’s style when he came in was different though, not sure why that boring passing around has gone, it was never there under Klopp so it was a distinct change.
Like he reacted to the negative comments about being boring. Everton’s press was non-existent, Newcastle looked finished and we seemed to almost gift these teams ways back in. We were too far open against Bournemouth when 2 up.
I do think it’s part personal as we have looked good at times, so who really knows.
3 Likes
Wasn’t the first time he tried that set up away against City last year where we had a relatively comfortable 2-0 win?